Thursday

Aug 23, 2018 at 11:47 AMAug 23, 2018 at 1:46 PM

There are few things on Earth with the ability to connect such a widely diverse population as the cannabis plant. Its role as a common denominator is far-reaching, weaving through all corners of society.

If you have been following, or at least attempting to follow, recreational cannabis’ wild ride through the state, you’ve most likely heard the term “social consumption” a ton lately. A common term outside of the cannabis arena, it has a different meaning in context to cannabis legislation. Social consumption actually refers to a law which would allow licensed establishments to both sell cannabis and allow onsite consumption.

In April 2018, the Cannabis Control Commission voted 4-1 to put off allowing social consumption sites, but agreed to come up with a new timeline which would include revisiting the possibility of granting these types of licenses. Conversations will restart in October.

Personally, my biggest concern for those proposing social consumption here is that it may be further sidetracking an industry which is still only hypothetical.

With most communities voting down recreational shops, I feel it’s best to tread lightly and ease them into the idea of retail shops before pushing it further. The words “social consumption site” alone could be the deal-breaker for towns still on the fence about accepting cannabis’s new legal status.

By further fueling worried minds, you could be shooting yourselves in the foot. We first need a functional road to retail cannabis before digging out side roads that will only lead to dead ends.

If passed, the commission would develop state limits on serving size, as well as implement “Daily Maximum Exposure” limits based on current Department of Public Health protocols. Single-dose servings would be provided by someone educated on the endocannabinoid system and various methods of consumption. These dose limits would control the amount that patrons consume in one sitting.

And, if an adult user has children, they will not have any products to bring home -- potentially lowering the chances of a child discovering a household stash. This is not to say all adult users will properly store cannabis, but it reduces the risk.

As an advocate, and part of the cannabis community, I also have plenty of concerns. I’ve mentioned my own opposition to recreational cannabis, having seen the medical industry’s unresolved problems. However, the law passed -- that part is over, and it’s not going away. Now it’s time to move on and work together in order to make a safe, prosperous industry -- from medical dispensaries to retail shops…and eventually, social consumption establishments.

Gregg Padula is an employee of GateHouse Media New England. He has experience in several areas of the cannabis industry, and now serves as an advocate for both patients' and workers’ rights. He can be reached at gpadula@wickedlocal.com.